The two events prophesied and detailed in the Revelation of Jesus Christ can be summarized into two categories: The harpazo (the catching away) and the second coming of Christ!
Jesus reiterated many times:
Matthew 11:15 He who has ears to hear, let him hear!
In other Words: So listen and understand what I’m telling you. If you’re able to understand this, then you need to respond.
Jesus emphasized this command in chapters 2 & 3 of the Book of Revelation! This is both a promise and a warning, depending on which path you take.
What response is Jesus expecting of us? We are to focus on being fruitful for the Kingdom’s sake and not be attached to this world and its trappings. We are to purify ourselves with The Word and be led by The Holy Spirit in all things. As we mature, we will become more sensitive to The Holy Spirit and will be good ambassadors for Christ and properly represent Him in ours words and actions.
The two events can be compared in the following table:
| Rapture (Harpazo) | Second Coming |
| Translation of believers | No translation involved |
| Translated saints go to Heaven | Translated saints return to earth |
| Earth not judged | Earth judged |
| Imminent, any moment, without signs | Follows definite, predicted signs |
| Not in the Old Testament | Predicted in the Old Testament |
| Believers only | Affects all men on the earth |
| Before the day of wrath | Concludes the day of wrath |
| No reference to satan | Satan bound |
| Jesus comes for His own | Jesus comes with His own |
| Jesus comes in the air | Jesus comes to the earth |
| Jesus claims His Bride | He comes with His Bride |
| Only His own see Him | Every eye shall see Him |
| Great Tribulation begins afterward | Millennium begins |
| True Church believers only | Others saved/raised later? |
I suggest you closely ponder this comparison. I have spent the last several days detailing the differentiation between the two events. I believe that we have been given the mystery revealed and what to expect from this revelation.
Jesus spoke in Matthew chapter 13:
10 And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?”
11 He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but to them it has not been given.
12 For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.
In other Words, for everyone who listens with an open heart will receive progressively more revelation until he has more than enough. But those who don’t listen with an open, teachable heart, even the understanding that they think they have will be taken from them.
13 Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.
14 And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says: ‘Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, And seeing you will see and not perceive;
15 For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.’
Is there anything worse than failing to see, recognize, and embrace Truth?
16 But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear;
17 for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.
As Paul would say, I rest my case concerning the two events!